Is this crazy talk?

[makhro82]

So my guys friend is looking to get engaged. He wants to buy a 1 ct. princess for $1500. Is that possible? I'm thinking no! What do you think?

 

[sonnyjane]

Well, I don't doubt that he can probably find a princess cut diamond that physically weighs 1 carat for that price. What that stone will look like, however...

ETA: I just did some quick searches online and with the lowest criteria (of reputable standards) of just good cut, J color, SI 1 clarity the price is going to be closer to $3,600 for stone alone, but to get a nice performer it will be more than that.

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah. He can probably FIND ONE, but should he buy it? Not so much. You need at least 5K for decent a one carat Princess. 4K for second hand maybe.

 

[slg47]

is he looking at clarity enhanced diamonds?

 

[makhro82]

I don't believe he is looking at clarity enhanced. I found a 1 carat on Kays for 2K. HIJ/I3! No thanks. I think he is going to have to expand the budget or lower his carat expectation.

 

[sonnyjane]

I don't believe he is looking at clarity enhanced. I found a 1 carat on Kays for 2K. HIJ/I3! No thanks. I think he is going to have to expand the budget or lower his carat expectation.

Yes to both. For his poor future fiance's sake, can you nudge him in the right direction lol?

 

[makhro82]

I will try to have him give a gentle nudge, but I don't know lol. Once his friend told him he didn't like my particular style of ring (he doesn't like diamonds all around meaning pave) I think he was done. Mine isn't the fanciest or the best color/clarity but he got the best bang for his buck at the time. I went from an eyeclean H .90 SI1 to a 1.16 fairly white J SI1. I realized to get to that magic mark I was going to have to cross into J territory and I don't regret it. And with the rose gold basket it looks just fine.

 

[Dancing Fire]

is he looking at clarity enhanced diamonds?

or a salt & pepper stone.

 

[makhro82]

is he looking at clarity enhanced diamonds?

or a salt & pepper stone.

 

[Gypsy]

Can you point him in our direction?

And is he being frugal, but can afford more. Or is this genuinely what he can afford?

 

[makhro82]

I think a combination of both. He is frugal and a little bit cash poor, but he finds money to spend on his extracurriculars!

 

[milton333]

As a woman, I'm just going to say this. A lot of guys come on here absolutely opposed to financing a diamond in any way. But this is the only piece of jewelry that a woman will wear every day of her married life, and it will be highly scrutinized by others. How much has he spent or will he spend on TVs alone in a decade, let alone 40 years of marriage? How much on cars with "bells and whistles" that do more than get you from A to B? IMO, it's ridiculous to express your commitment and desire to begin life together by cheaping out and spending less on this purchase than on a TV. If he's really contemplating a 1 ct ring, something tells me that the social circle in which he and his GF find themselves is consistent with 1 ct purchases, and he could find the resources to do this right if he wanted to.

 

[makhro82]

She may be in that social circle, but he is not. But I can say if he adequately planned his resources he would be doing much better. He has some expensive habits and that is why the low budget I believe. What's the old rule about so many times the salary? Plus I think he is also reluctant to spend more because his relationship is on the rocks. He thinks this proposal will save his relationship. I think he should save himself from this devil girl. Granted he's not my favorite of my guys friends, but he definitely doesn't deserve a girl who berates him at every turn and loves to fantasize about her ex ! But all that aside he's going to do it anyway lol.

 

[sonnyjane]

Oh Lordy. In that case point him toward the place with the longest return period. Eek.

 

[makhro82]

Oh Lordy. In that case point him toward the place with the longest return period. Eek.

This site needs a like button

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah. Okay well, in that case tell him 1,500 on a ring with a GREAT return policy. That means COSTCO!!! Costco has the BEST return policy. As long as you don't get work done on the ring (including sizing) you can return it for the lifetime of the ring.

I highly suggest a nice piece from them. http://www.costco.com/Browse/ProductSet.aspx?Prodid=11540959&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|108|28447|88436&N=4043602&Mo=27&pos=2&No=23&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=88436&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10573-Cat28447&topnav= Here's one.

Stick to Costco. Don't get it sized.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11671551&whse=BC&Ne=5000000+4000000&eCat=BC|108|28447|88436&N=4010130%205000108&Mo=36&pos=2&No=13&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10573-Cat28447&topnav=

http://www.costco.com/Browse/ProductSet.aspx?Prodid=11739166&whse=BC&Ne=5000000+4000000&eCat=BC|108|28447|88436&N=4010130%205000108&Mo=36&pos=2&No=19&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10573-Cat28447&topnav=

Sapphires are good enough for Princess Diana and Duchess Kate -- food enough for her:

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?whse=BC&Ne=5000000&eCat=BC|108|28447|88436&N=4010130+5000108&pos=2&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&ec=BC-EC10573-Cat28447&topnav=


http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11631064&whse=BC&Ne=5000000+4000000&eCat=BC|108|28447|88436&N=4010130%205000108&Mo=36&pos=2&No=34&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10573-Cat28447&topnav=

 

[tyty333]

Oh Lordy. In that case point him toward the place with the longest return period. Eek.

This site needs a like button

+1

I agree with Gypsy...then he should spend as little as possible if its not something that may work out. Heck, if he buys her
a cheap/ugly ring that may just push her over the edge and be the end of it. I feel mean spirited for saying that but I dont
feel like he should be buying her a ring to "save" the relationship especially if its not a good one to start with.

 

[Enerchi]

Oh Lordy. In that case point him toward the place with the longest return period. Eek.

This site needs a like button

+1

I agree with Gypsy...then he should spend as little as possible if its not something that may work out. Heck, if he buys her
a cheap/ugly ring that may just push her over the edge and be the end of it. I feel mean spirited for saying that but I dont
feel like he should be buying her a ring to "save" the relationship especially if its not a good one to start with.

Proposals/babies... they do not "SAVE" relationships! Nothing but 2 people working on the relationship will save it! What's the motivation behind him putting a teeny budget on this very symbolic purchase? Is he passive aggressive angry with his future fiance? Is he trying to blow the proposal? who knows - it just doesn't sit right

Sounds too complicated to bother getting involved in - not in a nasty way - but he's putting out negative vibes to start with (my stuff is more important than she is, so she can have only XXX for a diamond) which, IMHO, sounds a lot like 'here ya go, that's all your worth, that's all I'm investing in you'.

I'd back away from this situation and let the cards fall where they may... poor girl! (or maybe not... we don't know the whole story!)

 

[Amys Bling]

hmm, with diamond prices, I dont see him finding a 1 ct princess for 1.5K. Not anything that the general public would wear at least- prob heavily included, yellowed (i like yelloe though ) very poorly cut- therefore most likely not even facing up like a 1 ct.


good luck with that...

 

[minmin001]

if he does, that will be one ugly diamond =(

 

[Sparkly_Girl]

As a woman, I'm just going to say this. A lot of guys come on here absolutely opposed to financing a diamond in any way. But this is the only piece of jewelry that a woman will wear every day of her married life, and it will be highly scrutinized by others. How much has he spent or will he spend on TVs alone in a decade, let alone 40 years of marriage? How much on cars with "bells and whistles" that do more than get you from A to B? IMO, it's ridiculous to express your commitment and desire to begin life together by cheaping out and spending less on this purchase than on a TV. If he's really contemplating a 1 ct ring, something tells me that the social circle in which he and his GF find themselves is consistent with 1 ct purchases, and he could find the resources to do this right if he wanted to.

Well said! I remember having a conversation just like this with my DF when we started talking about getting engaged. We are both on our second marriages and he has never "trusted" the diamond industry, so was skeptical to "give" them as much money as we needed to to get the type of diamond we desired. I offered to go with a much less expensive stone, but, as you said, it would never work in our social circles. His professional position is such that (sad as it sounds...) appearances are very important and in our circles of friends, there are many (including us) very successful people and it would look odd if I were wearing a stone that wasn't consistent with that lifestyle.

So, he grumbled about it and then I reminded him that we have 2 cars sitting in our garage that EACH cost more than either of our first houses. Nevermind the toys (such as his Cirrus SR22 airplane...)! That snapped it all back into perspective for him. Every two years we will spend roughly the equivalent of what we're spending on my ring to replace a car. And my ring will last our lifetime... Even having it re-set would be a negligible expense compared to the initial expense of the diamond. Anyway, when I put it that way to him, the expense suddenly became very justifiable.

If your friend hasn't considered this perspective, maybe you can gently steer him in that direction...

 

[makhro82]

I won't be giving any advice. I just thought his expectations were unreasonable and wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy. I believe wholeheartedly that they will get married and probably stay married until one or the other decides they can do better which she already thinks she can. Why waste your time and energy? Really?! Thank goodness this is more of an acquaintance type of friend or I would be seriously questioning his choice of compadres lol!

A few years ago my .90 was $3300 so this was not making sense to me at all. I couldn't figure out what he was finding since according to everyone else diamond prices have gone up!

 

[Enerchi]

I think you are making the right choice - just let this unfold on its own!
Have you posted your ring anywhere? Would love to see it --- a little bling viewing makes the day so much nicer!

 

[makhro82]

Enerchi here is the link to my ring thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/he-finally-did-it.91548/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/he-finally-did-it.91548/[/URL]

It got damaged and I had to get the setting remade. I changed the basket to rose gold and went from an H to a slightly larger J. I haven't taken pictures of the reset. A few months ago I had his ring made by ERD too: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pictures-of-my-erd-black-ring.159434/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pictures-of-my-erd-black-ring.159434/[/URL]

The pictures aren't that great because I had to use my camera phone, but there are a few with my reset too.

 

[Enerchi]

WOW!!! love the remade rose gold head!

Beautiful rings you have. Thanks for posting your threads!!

 

[HopeDream]

You can find those kind of prices on the estate (used) market.

How does your friend feel about ebay? - not returnable, but possibly near budget:

Nice but a little over-budget: F (eyeclean?) SI1 $1800
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-40ct-1ct-C...nd_Solitaire_with_Accents&hash=item2eba7eb0d7 I think this is what I'd go for in his shoes.

Close to budget, stone is a bit less-clean J SI2 $1600
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/92CT-PRINCES...t=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item1c229509c8 could be re-rhodium-plated easily. (Note that this stone is fracture filed which is frowned upon by the PS community.)

Ebay is risky though, so buyer beware.

If he'll probably have to return it, then Costco is probably the better option.